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Over 600,000 gallons of wastewater spilled into the Concho River, here's what is affected

Two spills sent gallons of the wastewater into the river around 12:45 p.m. Sunday, June 2, 2019. Rain and flood water is attributed as the cause for the spills, according to a city news release.

The spills pumped the sewage into the river at 2,130 gallons per minute, according to the news release. By 6 p.m. Sunday, the rain slowed and 670,450 gallons of the wastewater had spread a mile north and south from the Farm-to-Market Road 380 bridge.

The first reported leak was from raw intake pumps and the second leak, announced on Tuesday, June 4, was from a siphon vault, which helps move sewage through the wastewater mains.

With the leaks, private wells and river pumps in the area of the spill and half a mile inland could be affected. People using water from these places should use only distilled water or water boiled for a minute at a rolling boil for personal use, such as bathing and cooking, according to the release.

Private wells should be tested and disinfected before stopping the distillation or boiling processes.

Due to the heavy rains and current flow of the Concho River, the spill "will be greatly diluted and the effects reduced by the time it reaches Ivie Reservoir, where it will be further diluted," according to the release.

Water from Ivie is treated at the the water treatment plant before it is piped to city water customers. The spills are not threatening the city supply and no boil water notice is in affect, according to the release.

People should also avoid contact with waste material, soil, or water in the area affected by the spill, according to the release. If someone does come into contact, they should bathe and wash clothes thoroughly.

City crews collected water samples from downstream to monitor any effects. Crews will clean spilled debris and make repairs to the siphon vault.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and local government officials were notified.